Will Barras ‘Bad Reception’ at Stolen Space

I have always found that acrylic paint used in conjunction with spray paint is a definite winner and give you astonishing results. However, it is difficult to master both mediums for most of us unless you are Will Barras.

Bad Reception, his latest show at Stolen Space, brought to us a series of works never exhibited before which, for most of them, have been painted using acrylics and spray paint (oil and ink have also been used for some of the works).

I was walking towards the entrance of the gallery and could see some of Will Barras’ works and my first thought was ‘wow, it looks amazing from here’. I was eager to go in and check the show out.

The fact that most of the works are large scales pieces gives you the tone of the show – bold. A quick look around the gallery and it became obvious to me that the composition in his works is heavy and busy which, coupled with the large scale aspect make the whole experience very overwhelming. Add to this a varied and strong colour palette and often you get some sort of dramatic or epic feel to the painting, it is almost exhausting to look at his works as you need to look and look again to get the whole picture, to get the story behind it.

Indeed Will Barras intend to tell us a story, the story of Mr Benn – read more about iton the Stolen Space website

Will Barras’s technique is really remarkable, he manages to combine urban/graffiti techniques with more traditional mediums such as acrylics or oil and the result is breathtaking and definitely achieve to blur the line between abstract and reality – what is really going on these paintings?

“I want to maintain the natural flow and energy, the tension between abstract and figurative, while developing and elaborating on a narrative. To generate a multiple choice of possibilities of what could be happening Ideas usually develop from the everyday mundane, broken phone converations and awkward situations …” Will Barras

The show ran until the 14th November 2010.

NB: if you wonder whether the motorbike was part of the show, well not really. Will Barras decided to leave it there after the opening night. Random but it did fit well with the show!

ART-PIE

 

5 Great Cities For Street Art

Street art cities | Art-PieThese days, some of the most interesting artists and art projects from all over the world are accessible from the comfort of our own homes. Whether you’re interested in digital art, galleries from your favourite artists, or even researching and comparing different pieces, you can do just about anything you need on your computer. Indeed, there’s something appealing about picking up a bottle of wine from Marks and Spencer, getting comfortable at your computer, and sifting through sites for your favourite art.

However, there’s also something special about getting out into the world to see great works of art in person – particularly if you’re interested in street art. Sure, you’ll find endless collections of images online, and in some cases you can even have them made into canvases for your apartment! But you can’t do street art justice unless you see it in person. With that in mind, here’s a quick look at 5 of the best cities in the world for viewing exceptional street art, as identified by Fodor’s.

Buenos Aires, Argentina
Giant maps, abstract art, football celebrations, and of course, political statements dominate Buenos Aires’s buildings, largely because the city has made it completely legal to tag. The only catch is that building owners have to agree – and in a city already full of incredible graffiti, most owners are probably inclined to encourage more!

Los Angeles, California USA
LA is famous for celebrating artistic expression, and that characteristic of the city certainly extends to street art. From Banksy, to Retna, and even the artist behind Barack Obama’s campaign posters, LA brings in the stars, resulting in outstanding murals and graffiti.

London, England
Not only is the local tagging in parts of London fairly legendary, but the city is also a hub for famous artists from all over the world. In terms of celebrity status, Banksy is about as big as a street artist can get, and has done a great deal of outstanding work in London’s Square Mile.

Berlin, Germany
Known as an artistic hub in general, Berlin is home to some of the world’s most inspired street art. In fact, well known street artists from all over the world travel to Berlin specifically to tag, and this has led to some truly outstanding creations worth seeing in person. Head to Gustav Meyer Allee in Kreuzberg to see a clock tower mural recently installed by famous French artist JR.

Bogota, Colombia
Murals and graffiti dominate the city walls of Bogota, and vary greatly in nature. From politically inspired art and inscriptions against former government executives, to vibrant, expressive art, Bogota has it all. Be sure to visit the portion of the city called La Candelaria – a charming city quarter on its own, but also the centre of street art activity.

Dan Baldwin’s new show ‘The Fear Of Letting go’ at Lawrence Alkin gallery

'The Fear Of Letting Go' by Dan Baldwin | Art-PieIn conjunction of Dan Baldwin’s new show, ‘The Fear of Letting go‘, we are offering a copy of the book that the artist is simultaneously releasing.

Entitled ‘The Fear of Letting go’, you will find all the artworks from the show and more. Last but not least, Dan will sign the book!

To win this book, you just need to subscribe to our newsletter by filling out the form below.

Fear not, if you are already subscribed, just share this article on your favourite social media platform (use the buttons at the top of this article)

About the show

The Fear of Letting Go’ charts a new direction in Dan Baldwin’s creative practice. His approach to making this new work is more structured and, for the first time ever, Baldwin is planning and constructing his paintings, methodically creating links and dialogues between the different media on show.

Following his sell out New York show ‘The End of Innocence’, this latest collection on display will feature new paintings, bronzes, ceramic vases and original works on paper and wood. ‘The Fear of Letting Go’ will be Baldwin’s most autobiographical and intimate body of work to date.

The work on display successfully retains Baldwin’s signature dense and multifaceted aesthetic, as well as continuing and progressing his engagement with bronze sculpture. His obsession with incorporating found objects and sentimental ephemera is still abundantly apparent as he invites the viewer to delve deep into his past, reassessing feelings of nostalgia.

'The Fear Of Letting Go' by Dan Baldwin | Art-Pie

“This new work is a lot to do with memory, childhood and innocence –
most of the new paintings are contained within a room, or an environment. I’ve always said it’s about life and death, but in this body of work it’s more personal…”
Dan Baldwin

Read the interview of Dan Badlwin by Lawrence Alkin gallery –

WHAT- ‘The Fear Of Letting Go’ by Dan Baldwin
WHERE – Lawrence Alkin Gallery, 42 New Compton Street, London, WC2H 8DA
WHEN – 1st October- 14th November, Monday to Saturday 11am –7pm, or by appointment

www.lawrencealkingallery.com

We will pick up the 50th entrant to this competition as the winner!

Drones in Deptford coming soon

Silent RunningWe all like going to the movies, don’t we? But how about going to the movies and get a total immersion in it, how about an invasion by spaceships and robots whilst watching the 1972 eco-themed sci-fi classic Silent Running?

Immersive cinema company The Vanishing Point is throwing another mighty sounding event in association with nationwide film season Scala Beyond.  The venue is the Utrophia Gallery in Deptford – a space which, conveniently, is already well equipped with rooftop machinery, and the feel of a ‘run down old spaceship’, according to Paul Reed, The Vanishing Pointco-founder and creative director.

Drone#1-huey
Drone #1 aka Huey in Silent Running

From Paul Reed,

‘We don’t want to create a nostalgic reaction of the film but look at the themes, what was it getting at and how can we have some fun with that and keep people interested and excited.

The event will feature interaction with crew members from The Valley Forge space freighter, garden areas, a blast-off bar, food stalls and immersive installations inspired by the fiction of the film. We also hear that there will also be a retro video game installation.

The Vanishing Point Silent Running Screening takes place on 15 September at Utrophia (Rooftop screening), 120 Deptford High Street, London, SE8. For tickets and more information visit www.thevanishingpoint.org.uk

Find out a bit more about the concept

3d Sketches by Ramon Bruin

3D is spreading fast in the movie industry and everyone seems to embrace that technology and I certainly am. But I appreciate even  more when it comes into some illustrated art.

Meet Dutch freelance artist Ramon Bruin and his new series of astonishing 3D pencil drawings. I do not need to say much about those, they are just out of this world. But what I would say is that these were made only with pencil, yes just ordinary pencils. Ok add a touch of genius from the artist  and boom, see below.

Ramon Bruin | Art-Pie Ramon Bruin | Art-Pie Ramon Bruin | Art-Pie Ramon Bruin | Art-Pie Ramon Bruin | Art-Pie Ramon Bruin | Art-Pie

First seen on Design Taxi

Birds of Paradise show by James Star at Coningsby gallery

I now work around the lively Fitzvoria neighbourhood in Central London and managed to pay a visit to the Coningsby gallery and found out about one of their upcoming shows and in particular about James Starr

Jim Starr will be exhibiting his exquisite sketches, paintings and prints of birds, and avian-influenced portraits at the Coningsby Gallery opening Monday 12 October.

Inspired by his expeditions worldwide and wildlife on the Thames, twenty works by Starr will be shown, displaying field sketches of Spoonbills, Herons and Eagles, alongside their final incarnations as large-scale canvases.

James Starr | Art-Pie

Starr began painting birds when he was just 13 years old. He has worked as an expedition artist throughout his career, recording through sketches and photography the wildlife he saw on trips to Svalbard, Iceland, the Himalayas and the Rockies.

Through illustration Starr experimented with screen-printing methods, which he now combines with painting to create his own mixed-media hybrid.

Starr’s latest works are developed through the layering of screen-prints and paint repeatedly onto canvas; a method that Starr likens to a ‘remix’. The species are depicted in great detail as a result, surrounded by abstract landscapes of Pop-like colours and subtle textures.

James Starr | Art-Pie

WHAT – ‘Birds of Paradise’ by James Starr
WHEN – 12 October 2015–24 October 2015
WHERE – Coningsby Gallery, 30 Tottenham Street, London W1T 4RJ

STREET ART ENCOUNTERS